BRD REFLECTIONS
Reborn Right
Revelation 16 and Psalm 141 (NIV)
(Doreen Soh, Chairperson, Wesley Youth Centre)
READ:
Revelation 16 and Psalm 141 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
As I was reading and reflecting on Rev 16, I was taken aback when I noticed that it was written in the past tense. The seven bowls of God’s wrath were imageries that happened right before the writer’s eyes. All that were detailed in this chapter were unthinkably scary. I am so reminded of the verse “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
In God’s divine planning, the other chapter that we were guided to set our quiet time on is Psalm 141. It is like after witnessing God’s wrath, we are given this picture of God’s aid. Psalm 141 is a plea by the Psalmist to make sure he does what is right… A prayer that God will set him apart and make him right with Him that even when a righteous man strikes him, that is kindness, and when a righteous man rebukes him, that is oil on his head (Psalm 141:5). That the writer is so ready to interpret strikes and rebukes as a form of endearment speaks volumes of how much he yearns to do what is right before God.
APPLY:
How much do I need to do right with God? So many times I find myself worshipping and raising my hands high up telling Him that I will do right for Him. In church. On Sunday worship services. I attend meetings and brainstorm with fellow Christian brothers and sisters what God wants me to do. It is the right thing to do, right? But… how right am I with Him? My heart somehow only operates for God when the right channel is on. But once I am out of God’s premises, out of God’s presence, out of God’s channel, I am back to the delinquent that runs after worldly distractions. The struggle is real. It is hard.
DO:
How much do I need to do right with God? When I gave my life to Jesus eons ago, I was already on the journey to be Reborn Right with God. That opportunity was a sacred one that I didn’t miss. But how have I been? Today, I declared aloud again that my life is a Christian life. To be Reborn Right with God, just like the Psalmist, I know I have God with me and “my eyes have to be fixed on Him” (v8) and not the world. Yes, I have God with me because “in Him, I can take refuge” (v8). Yes, I have God with me because He will “keep me safe from traps set by the evildoers” (v9).
PRAY:
Our Dearest Heavenly Father, I come to You as a sinner ready to be cleansed by You daily. In You I seek refuge and I ask that You keep me safe from the worldly distractions and traps. Create in me a yearning heart that runs only after Your heartbeat. Let me be Reborn Right with You God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
